Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK™

[lowtina]

Hi. Just purchased a 93 SW Trooper. Water pump was running off centre before we bought it, so the "highly reliable garage" promised to check and/or replace it.............they didn't!!! It has just siezed solid on the motorway causing the temperature to go through the roof and empty the cooling system all over the road!!! I've got the car home and it starts and runs fine (apart from the waterpump and alternator not turning). My main concern is this. Before the problem, there were no warning lights on the dash. Now though, the timing belt and water trap lights remain on. Is this related?? Does the timing belt light have a tension sensor or is it just illuminated when the replacement mileage is reached? I'm hoping these lights are confused as the battery voltage is at 11 volts? If this is major, what could be the problem and finally, is the timing belt on the trooper easy or a complete pig of a job? Easy being ford pinto engine standard, pig being 306 TD job!!! Thanks.

[Google]

[DYLAN]

This highly reliabe garage. Is that where you bought the car?  and if so how long ago?. Someone else will be along to explain about the belt mine is a v6 petrol so i'm not sure.

[Hard1]

Wow! Bad luck.....Welcome to the Club - an Island Trooper?   . To start with you'll have to replace the timing belt now anyway as you replace the water pump which is in the same area. It's possible all the water dumping out of your pump will have caused your electrical problems and alternator voltage reading. May be a fuse or charging relay issue.

The timing belt warning light is a mileage related condition (every 60,000 miles) and I don't believe there is a specific sensor for this. When you change the belt you re-set the warning light. Timing belt can take a couple of hours but isn't complicated however, there are some "procedures" to follow re tensioning etc which are all on this site if you use the search function.

There are loads of members who will know more than this however, and as they're a hard working lot, expect to see them on here in due course today.....

And I sincerely trust you will send any out-of-pocket expenses incurred to the dealer who lied to you.
_________________
1999 Cougar with a NICE motor..

Click HERE to see under my bonnet!

[lowtina]

Hi. Thanks for the speedy replies!!! I don't get that on the many....ahem.....Ford forums I visit   !!

The garage I bought the car from were supposed to have replaced the pump. They also, allegedly, did an oil service but closer inspection today has revealed that the oil filter looks to have just been cleaned externally to make it look new! Oh well!!

Well, if the timing belt has no physical sensor then hopefully, these warning lights are, like you say, due to the coolant being everywhere! I'm hoping to get the pump changed under warranty but the only approved garage in the area are not returning my calls (never get a warranty, save £200 and do it yourself!!). I will get them to do the timing belt while they're in there. That'll save me a job.........probably!

[lowtina]

Well, I've just finished changing the water pump. Pretty easy job really. Didn't change the timing belt as it was done 16k miles ago.

As an interesting note, the timing belt and water trap warning lights stayed on because the alternator wasn't spinning. The warning lights simply stayed on due to the fact that the system thought the engine wasn't running.

[Peej]

Glad you got it sorted, as a point of interest how does the pump run off centre?

[lowtina]

The nose of the pump (pulley) was running off centre. i.e. wobbling. It was due to the bearings being very close to failure so the shaft was free to move around in the housing.